Cliff Floyd got off to a sizzling start that included a 20-game hitting streak, but yesterday afternoon was talking about the mental differences he encountered in following that tear by going 2-for-22 on the Mets’ recent road trip.

Floyd said that when you’re hitting, you don’t think about anything. When you’re not hitting, you become a batting cage regular.

Just a few lockers to his left, Mike Cameron was nowhere to be found. Cameron went into last night’s series opener against the Cardinals batting .476 in his first six games back from the disabled list.

He didn’t have to think about much, yet Cameron was off in the cages getting extra work.

Cameron batted second in the lineup last night, replacing Kaz Matsui, a reward for his quick return to form after missing the first month of the season.

“It’s hard to do, man,” Floyd said. “The hardest thing to do is come off the DL, especially a month into the season when the pitchers have their feet wet . . . You don’t hit the full head of steam as a pitcher, I don’t think, until like the first month is over.”

“These guys are tough,” Floyd said. “And for him to come out like he has, like he’s been hitting all season long is amazing. So hopefully he can continue that.”

No outfielder has seen his name in as many trade rumors (got a reliever?) as Cameron, so this could also be a great showcase of what he can do.

Going into last night, Cameron was batting .476 (10-for-21) with nine runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and four RBIs in his first week of live action.

Floyd, Cameron’s best friend on the team, said Cameron’s getting off to a hot start was not important to him.

“Honestly, no,” Floyd said. “He’s a different character. Nothing bothers him. So I don’t think him starting low or high has a bearing on who he’s going to be or what he’s going to be.

“I think that’s probably helped him do as well as he’s been doing because he don’t stress on nothing.

“Nothing bothers him,” Floyd said. “And that’s just how he’s always been. If everybody had that mental attitude, boy, there would be some tough cookies around.”